JUNE’S POV, A scoff escaped my lips the moment I stepped into the bathing chamber.
It was nothing like I had ever seen.
The cozy bathing chamber was as wide as Tristine’s room, and filled with the fragrance of fresh roses.
Potted rose bushes lined the marble walls, while flowering vines climbed over the glass ceiling, filtering the morning sunlight and giving it the feel of a secluded garden.
“I’ve finally found a place to escape,” I murmured with a nod, letting my gaze wander over the serene beauty of the bathroom.
I let my bathrobe slide down my body before stepping into the warm water of the marble bathing pool.
But the comfort it brought was short lived as the event from the previous night replayed before my eyes.
After how easily Tristine had snatched the dagger from my hand last night, I knew I had to come up with a better plan.
“Tristine is indeed stronger and swift,” I muttered under my breath.
“If I want to kill him in his own Pack, I have to be cautious and stay one step ahead of him.” I let out a breath as the words left my lips, and swam toward the other end of the pool.
Deep within me, I made up my mind to take it easy and try not to let my hatred for him show.
“Lord Boston and September were right, I can’t do it on my own.
I shouldn’t let him suspect a thing.” I deepened into the water and swept my drenched hair away from my face when I raised my head.
But the warm water did nothing to ease the dull ache in my head that had greeted me when I woke up that morning.
I swam back to the steps and rested my arms on the marble edge.
“Perhaps, waiting for Lord Boston is the best thing to do,” I muttered under my breath, before closing my eyes to calm my nerves.
Suddenly, I heard the door click open, and I knew someone had entered the bathroom.
“September, is that you?” I asked, not bothering to know who else it could be.
“September?” a woman’s smooth voice replied instead, and my eyes widened.
I quickly picked up the bathrobe I had dropped before stepping into the water and slipped it on before turning to face her.
She scoffed and folded her arms across her chest.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Is that someone’s name?” She had a wide smile on her face as she held my gaze.
She was so comfortable as if barging into my private space was totally normal.
As I stared into the eyes of the lady whose poking gaze had pulled my attention the previous day, I didn’t need anyone to tell me the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.
I saw straight through the façade she wore.
Beneath that pleasant smile was a barely concealed hatred and resentment for me.
A scoff escaped my lips.
I didn’t need anyone to tell me she was interested in Tristine.
“Who are you?
What are you doing here?” I asked.
Unlike her, I had no time for pretense.
I didn’t intend to mask my disinterest or pretend to get along with her, especially when it was obvious she didn’t like me either.
“Oh, I’m hurt, Kira,” she replied, pressing a hand to her chest before pouting for a moment.
“How could you not recognize me?” Her words slammed into me and my mind began to run wild with calculations.
Was she close to Princess Kira?
But I quickly dismissed the thought, realizing she would’ve known I wasn’t her, if she had known Princess Kira.
The fact that she believed I was Kira told me they had never been close.
“Well, I don’t,” I replied with a nonchalant shrug.
She stepped closer, letting her hands fall to her side.
“It’s me, Princess Cassy – Tristine’s best friend,” the words tumbled from her lips, the smile on her face faltering a little.
“We met ten years ago, remember?
At the gathering when Tristine had saved me.” She continued, her words wrapped in a feigned warmth.
I saw what she was trying to do.
She wanted me to know she was closer to Tristine.
The glint in her eyes confirmed it.
I scoffed, letting out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Her insecurity was the least of my problems.
Ten years was enough to forget how someone looked.
I didn’t have to worry about her suspecting my identity.
“What are you doing here?” I asked again, holding her gaze.
The smile on her face froze immediately, and her brows drew together.
“Wait, you don’t remember me?” She asked, searching my face.
Her words made my heart race, and I wondered if she was someone I was supposed to know.
Lord Boston hadn’t told me Kira had friends outside Greenfield.
The thought of slipping up and blowing my covers made my hands turn cold.
“Well, I had an accident and lost my memory,” I lied with a shrug.
It was the easiest excuse I could come up with.
The perfect explanation for the parts of Princess Kira’s life I knew nothing about.
“Oh, I see,” she said with a nod.
Her gaze glazed over, and I wondered if she had believed me.
But more than that, I knew I had to leave.
I was already getting uncomfortable and didn’t want to spend another second with her.
“Anyway, it’s nice to see you again,” she said, after about four seconds, her smile returning to her face.
But it was as empty as the warmth in her voice.
My lips curled and I scoffed, nodding as understanding settled within me.
“Well, I’ll come around another day, Kira,” she continued.
“But for now, I want you to enjoy Tristine’s company while you can, because I’m coming to take him away from you.” Her eyes glinted with determination as she smiled smugly.
I snorted, she finally let it out; she finally stated the reason for her visit.
The words had bare left her lips when she turned and walked toward the door.
“It seems I’ll have an interesting stay over here,” I murmured to myself, as I stared at her retreating figure.
Just then, I recalled I was supposed to meet September that morning.
She had said she had good news for me.
As soon as I returned to our room, I dried my hair and changed into a peach-colored flared gown before making my way to the peach orchard in search of September.
It was the perfect place for us to talk without drawing too much attention.
I spotted her the moment I arrived, carefully plucking ripe peaches and placing them into the basket in her hand.
“We’ve found a perfect opportunity to get our revenge,” she whispered in a firm tone as soon as I got to where she stood.
My eyes flew open the moment I heard her, my jaw clenching as determination surged through me.
“When is it?” The words tumbled from my lips as I stared into her eyes.
“In two weeks’time,” she replied, turning toward the tree to pluck another fruit.
“Tristine is coming.
I’m going to say something, try to smile.”